10 Apr 2023

Kanye Dairy Farmers Association (KDFA) has been assured of the Ministry of Agriculture’s continued support in ensuring that they achieve their aspiration of establishing a dairy farm and fodder production.

Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi said this during a meet and greet session with the association’s members at the 790 hectare plot, located near Moshaneng.

Mr Molebatsi appreciated the association’s plans and challenges they faced in achieving their dream.

He said government remained committed to improve and revive every sub-sector of agriculture, dairy production included.

The ministry, he said, was also optimistic about the future of the industry, as it was one of the sub-sector with great potential in economic diversification.

“Low milk production in the country presents an opportunity to farmers to start dairy farming, therefore existence of robust milk production such as the one planned by Kanye Dairy farming Association should encourage more to venture into such,” he said.

Mr Molebatsi shared that currently, local milk production in dairy enterprises was at 13 per cent of the national consumer demand, which meant that 87 per cent of milk in the country was imported.

“Dairy farming presents opportunities which farmers can capitalize on as it is still an undeveloped sub-sector in the country with low milk production and our aspiration are for associations such as KDFA to tap into this niche,” he said.

He however underscored the need to further engage with his personnel at the ministry to ensure that they established a project plan for the association, and also assisted in ensuring that it was further implemented.

“The project plan is essential as it basically entails expected deliverables. It will also make it more effective to make follow-ups and identify delays,” he said.

Mr Molebatsi said he was pleased with the effort the Association had made so far in acquiring land needed for the  project, adding that land was mostly an obstacle that hindered  most people from pursuing such businesses.

He promised that he would request and further advocate that they be allocated a borehole that belonged to government and was located within their plot.

Mr Molebatsi said he was satisfied with the improvement on production in the horticultural farming, which stood at 65 per cent, adding that dairy farming production needed to be improved.

“This was due to effecting the laws to support that, together with the government providing resources that assist farmers to enable production through equipping their boreholes and buying them shade nets,” he said.

He said it was government’s intention to assist dairy production farmers financially through the Horticulture Impact Accelerator Subsidy Fund.

Kanye Farmers Association vice chairperson, Mr Kabelo Gasennelwe said the association was registered in 2014 and it aimed at producing milk. He said their dreams were hampered by challenges in acquiring capital to import dairy cows. He said the plan was also to produce fodder and supply other farmers and later sell the dairy calves to other aspiring dairy producers.

“Up to this end, we have not been able import livestock, but we are working towards that, we have a total of 10 members and we are considering to increase our members to 20,” he said.

Mr Gasennelwe further pleaded with the ministry for support to kick-start their project.

He appreciated the assistant minister’s visit to appreciate their challenges and map a way forward to the realisation of their plan.

“It is expensive to acquire the title deed, land board has expressed that they cannot assist us on the surveying aspect, but we are optimistic that attainment of the title deed can enable facilitation of the loan, as we can be able to value the plot.

This visit was of upmost importance as it can open doors to the successful operation of our business,” he said. BOPA

 

 

 

 Kanye Dairy Farmers Association (KDFA) has been assured of the Ministry of Agriculture’s continued support in ensuring that they achieve their aspiration of establishing a dairy farm and fodder production.

Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi said this during a meet and greet session with the association’s members at the 790 hectare plot, located near Moshaneng.

Mr Molebatsi appreciated the association’s plans and challenges they faced in achieving their dream.

He said government remained committed to improve and revive every sub-sector of agriculture, dairy production included.

The ministry, he said, was also optimistic about the future of the industry, as it was one of the sub-sector with great potential in economic diversification.

“Low milk production in the country presents an opportunity to farmers to start dairy farming, therefore existence of robust milk production such as the one planned by Kanye Dairy farming Association should encourage more to venture into such,” he said.

Mr Molebatsi shared that currently, local milk production in dairy enterprises was at 13 per cent of the national consumer demand, which meant that 87 per cent of milk in the country was imported.

“Dairy farming presents opportunities which farmers can capitalize on as it is still an undeveloped sub-sector in the country with low milk production and our aspiration are for associations such as KDFA to tap into this niche,” he said.

He however underscored the need to further engage with his personnel at the ministry to ensure that they established a project plan for the association, and also assisted in ensuring that it was further implemented.

“The project plan is essential as it basically entails expected deliverables. It will also make it more effective to make follow-ups and identify delays,” he said.

Mr Molebatsi said he was pleased with the effort the Association had made so far in acquiring land needed for the  project, adding that land was mostly an obstacle that hindered  most people from pursuing such businesses.

He promised that he would request and further advocate that they be allocated a borehole that belonged to government and was located within their plot.

Mr Molebatsi said he was satisfied with the improvement on production in the horticultural farming, which stood at 65 per cent, adding that dairy farming production needed to be improved.

“This was due to effecting the laws to support that, together with the government providing resources that assist farmers to enable production through equipping their boreholes and buying them shade nets,” he said.

He said it was government’s intention to assist dairy production farmers financially through the Horticulture Impact Accelerator Subsidy Fund.

Kanye Farmers Association vice chairperson, Mr Kabelo Gasennelwe said the association was registered in 2014 and it aimed at producing milk. He said their dreams were hampered by challenges in acquiring capital to import dairy cows. He said the plan was also to produce fodder and supply other farmers and later sell the dairy calves to other aspiring dairy producers.

“Up to this end, we have not been able import livestock, but we are working towards that, we have a total of 10 members and we are considering to increase our members to 20,” he said.

Mr Gasennelwe further pleaded with the ministry for support to kick-start their project.

He appreciated the assistant minister’s visit to appreciate their challenges and map a way forward to the realisation of their plan.

“It is expensive to acquire the title deed, land board has expressed that they cannot assist us on the surveying aspect, but we are optimistic that attainment of the title deed can enable facilitation of the loan, as we can be able to value the plot.

This visit was of upmost importance as it can open doors to the successful operation of our business,” he said.  ENDS